Notes on Electrolysis.

Electrolysis of aqueous Copper (II) Electrolysis of aqueous Copper (II)

sulphate sulphate
Colour of blue blue
solution before
electrolysis

Colour of blue colourless

solution after
electrolysis
Anode material Copper Anode Carbon anode
Reaction at Anode ionization occurs. Hydroxide ions and sulphate ions
Anode Copper anode dissolves and decreases in migrate . However only hydroxide ion
/Observations mass is Preferentially discharged.
Bubbles of oxygen is seen

Equation at Cu Cu2+ +2e (oxidation) 4OH-  2H2O + O2+ 4e(oxidation)

Anode
Cathode Electrolpating : Spoon, object be plated Carbon material
material

Cathode 1. Brown solid deposited . Bubbles .

observation 2. Increase in mass of cathode. (the
increase in mass is equal to the
loss in mass at cathode)
Cathode Copper ions discharged were from the Hydrogen ions and Cu 2+ from
reaction anode which dissolved electrolyte migrate here but only Cu 2+
is discharged( Lower in the ECS
series and less stable)
Cathode Cu2+ +2e  Cu Cu2+ +2e  Cu
equation ( from the anode) ( from electrolyte)
Overall Remains unchanged .There is no loss of There is loss of Cu2+ hence decrease
concentration of ions from the solution of concentration
electrolyte
Observation Brown solid in Cathode Brown solid in Cathode
which is
seen in Both
Observation 1. No change in colour of 1. There is colour change
which is not electrolyte 2. Bubbles at anode.
seen in Both 2. Decrease in Anode
/Differences

07_Chem _Notes electrolysis/lam 1

 1. A to F are six aqueous solutions. Each solution was tested with litmus paper and
then connected as shown in the electrical circuit . The electrodes used were
carbon electrodes.

The following table shows the results.

Solution Litmus test Current Anode product Cathode
Product
A No effect 0.0 None None
B Turns red 1.6 Oxygen Hydrogen
C No effect 1.1 Chlorine Hydrogen
D Turns red 1.4 Chlorine Hydrogen
E No effect 1.0 Oxygen Hydrogen
F Turns blue 1.5 Oxygen Hydrogen
a. Identify the six solutions
b. Give an ionic equation for the reaction in solution B at the

I anode II. Cathode.

c. If a few drops of universal indicator were added to solution C before electrolysis

began, the indicator appeared green. As electrolysis progresses , the indicator
gradually turned blue. Explain the colour change.

2.

The diagram below shows the electrolysis of an aqueous solution containing an

electrolyte P using graphite as electrodes. It is known that P contains nitrate ions.

a. Why must we use d.c. electricity for electrolysis?

b. During the electrolysis , a gas Q collected above electrode R.
(i) What is gas Q?
(ii) Shows by means of an ionic equation , how gas Q is formed at the electrode
R.
(iii) Why is oxidation said to have taken place at electrode R?
c. At electrode S, no gas was given off but a pink deposit formed over the electrode
S.

07_Chem _Notes electrolysis/lam 2

 d. Describe two other changes that you would observe after sometime . Explain
your answers.

07_Chem _Notes electrolysis/lam 3